Wallboard concern after US damage

The Building Research Association has warned about potential wallboard problems after damage to thousands of United States houses.

Peter Burghout, association chief executive in Wellington, said he was concerned about Chinese drywall which had caused corrosion to US houses and suffering to residents.

He called for any New Zealanders worried about their wallboard to contact the association.

The drywall in the US has been blamed for the failure of air-conditioning systems and electric wiring and pipe corrosion. An overpowering smell of rotten eggs has driven thousands of Americans from their homes and US$25 billion ($34.75 billion) lawsuits are expected.

Coughs, eye and skin irritation, breathing problems, nosebleeds, running noses, persistent headaches, sinus infections and asthma attacks are just some of the symptoms Americans have complained about.

Fears are that gypsum used in the US wallboard was excavated from a mine in China known for producing a smelly and off-colour mineral.

The association and Fletcher Building executives are keeping a close eye on the problem but chiefs at both said none of the wallboard had arrived here, as far as they knew.

Burghout said the association had had no complaints but he said he was monitoring the issue and wanted to hear from people worried they might have the wall linings.

"We'd be interested to know because we'd like to do testing and give recommendation about installation, removal and replacement of wallboards. We would be worried if there was any here," he said.

Chris Ellis, the chief executive of Fletcher's building products division, is also watching the situation and following reports from China and the US.

There was a remote chance that some of the problem wallboard might have been shipped to New Zealand, he said. He warned people against buying non-recognised brands which might be offered extremely cheaply.

Greg Burn of Structure Ltd in Auckland said product substitution was common in New Zealand's construction sector.

Fletcher's Winstone Wallboards is the dominant wallboard product here and it is association-appraised along with Elephant Plasterboard, which has been marketed and distributed here for over 20 years.

British Plaster Board is also tested and approved for use here.

Burghout said there were no issues with these products, which were the dominant wall-lining brands on the market.

The Wall Street Journal and South China Morning Post said wallboards had caused substantial damage to US houses. "One major manufacturer of the Chinese drywall, Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co, says its test indicated that its drywall isn't harmful," the Journal reported.

DRYWALL DANGER

* Chinese drywall used in some US homes has been blamed for the failure of air-conditioning systems and wiring and pipe corrosion.

* It is said to produce a rotten-egg smell and Americans with the drywall have complained about coughs, eye and skin irritation, breathing problems and asthma attacks.

* Complaints in the US surround houses built in 2006 and 2007. Many of those affected were built after the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster and homes in Louisiana, Florida and Texas are affected.